In celebration of Constitution Day, Lyon College will host a presentation on constitutional interpretation by Professor Theresa Beiner, a constitutional law expert and former dean of the William H. Bowen School of Law of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. The event is set for noon on Tuesday, Sept. 17, in the Nucor Auditorium of the Lyon Business and Economics Building on the Lyon College campus, 2300 Highland Rd., Batesville.

Professor Beiner’s talk, titled "Methods of Constitutional Interpretation," will explore the different approaches used by courts and legal scholars to interpret the U.S. Constitution. As constitutional issues continue to shape national debates, this presentation promises to offer timely insights into how legal interpretation impacts the application of constitutional principles today.

Professor Beiner joined the Bowen School of Law in 1994, following private practice as an associate at the San Francisco law firm of Howard, Rice, Nemerovski, Canady, Falk & Rabkin, and a clerkship with the Honorable John F. Grady, U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois in Chicago. She was appointed Bowen’s first permanent female dean in 2018 and served in that role for five years before returning to the faculty in 2023. Prior to her deanship, Professor Beiner served as the law school’s associate dean for Faculty Development and associate dean for Academic Affairs.

Professor Beiner teaches Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Employment Discrimination, Gender and the Law, and other courses aligned with her passion for civil rights and the adjudication process. She is an award-winning scholar, known for her interdisciplinary approach to law, and has won Bowen’s Faculty Excellence Awards in both teaching and scholarship.

Dr. Scott Roulier, David Trimble Professor of Political Philosophy at Lyon College, emphasized the importance of Professor Beiner’s visit:

“Professor Beiner brings a depth of expertise and a unique perspective on constitutional law that will resonate with students, faculty, and the wider community. Her insights on how legal interpretation shapes the application of our nation’s most fundamental document make this Constitution Day presentation incredibly timely and relevant.”

This event is part of Lyon College's annual observance of Constitution Day, a federal holiday commemorating the signing of the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787. Constitution Day celebrates the enduring principles of liberty, justice and democracy that continue to shape the nation.